The New York Guard in WW I

SPC Marianne De Angelis, Command Historical NCO

When most people think of the New York Guard during World War I, the First
Provisional Brigade is usually what comes to mind. They guarded all 96 miles of the
Aqueduct that served New York City. Being charged with safeguarding the water supply
of America’s own Emerald City, The First Provisional and its’ officers were celebrated,
and mentioned rather often in newspaper articles of the day. Naturally, then, it seemed to
the general public that they were it…the only game in town, the whole shooting match,
the New York Guard in toto.

However…there were four brigades organized to replace the NYNG and under the
command of the State Headquarters. The First Provisional Regiment plus a Second
Provisional Regiment and Provisional Brigade were only the State Active Duty members
from the NYG, very similar to the Task Force Empire Shield of today.

The National Defense Act of 1916 provided cursory authority to organize “State” forces
as the last sentence of Section 61 stated, “that nothing contained in this act shall prevent
the organization and maintenance of state police or Constabulary.” Governors used this
clause as permission to begin preparations for organizing replacement National Guard
units. On 3 August 1917, the Adjutant General of New York, in order to comply with the
provisions of the State Constitution requiring that troops be available to the Governor for
the protection of life and property of the citizens of New York, organized a State Military
Force known as the New York Guard under the Home Guard Act of 1917, and the
subsequent War Department Circular #3 of March 1918. The NYG was later re-
organized on geographical lines under GO# 58 AGO November 1917.

1st Brigade – HQ, New York City 2nd Brigade – HQ, Brooklyn
4 Sept. 1917 to 19 Feb. 1918 – 22 Dec. 1917 to 19 Feb. 1918-
BG George R. Dyer BG James Robb
19 Feb. 1918 to 29 Dec. 1919 – 19 Feb, 1918 to 31 March 1919-
Unidentified BG George R. Dyer

1st Battalion, Signal Corps Squadron C, Cavalry

22nd Regiment, Engineers 2nd Field Artillery
Squadron A, Cavalry 13th Coast Artillery Corps
1st Field Artillery 3rd Field Hospital
8th Coast Artillery Corps 14th Regiment, Infantry
9th Coast Artillery Corps 23rd Regiment, Infantry
1st Field Hospital 47th regiment, infantry
3rd Ambulance Corps 6th Battalion, Infantry
7th Regiment, Infantry
12th Regiment, Infantry
15th Regiment, Infantry
69th Regiment, Infantry
7th Regiment, Infantry
Total – 8,777 Total – 5,437

3rd Brigade – HQ in Albany 4th Brigade – HQ in Buffalo

23 Nov. 1917 to 30 April 1919 -
BG F. DeForest Kemp
30 April 1919 to 29 Dec. 1919-
BG James Westcott Lester
24 Sept. 1917 to 18 April 1919-
BG Louis L. Babcock
29 Jul. 1919 to 13 September1919 -
BG Newton E. Turgeon
13 Sept. 1919 to 29 Dec. 1919
BG Edgar Stilson Jennings

2nd Regiment, Infantry Squadron B, Cavalry

10th Regiment, Infantry 2nd Ambulance Company
5th Battalion, Infantry 3rd Regiment, infantry
Squadron D, Cavalry 4th Regiment, infantry
2nd Field Hospital 65th Regiment, Infantry
1st Regiment, Infantry 74th Regiment, Infantry

Total – 3,444 Total – 4,739

Total New York Guard – 22,397

Command of the NYG was directly by the Adjutant General of New York, and included
BG Charles H. Sherrill until 13 Jan 19 then BG Charles W. Berry until 30 Mar 1919.
After the Armistice was signed and the Federalized New York National Guard units were
returned to state status, MG John Francis O'Ryan was named Commander of the NYG on
31 March to merge the NYG and returning troops back into the New York National
Guard. This was completed and New York Guard units were deactivated and any troops
not reassigned to the NYNG were discharged on 29 December 1919. Official
disbandment orders were not published until AGO#4 dated 12 Jan 1923 effective 16 Jan
1923.

…Now you know.